A new machine gun - the right weapon

for today's environment

Mr. David Steimke
NDIA May 2012

Approved For Public Release

Identified Problem

2009 GDATP identified some key deficiencies

in current war fighter technology
Lack

of range and/or lethality in current selection

man portable weapon systems.
Providing range and lethality requires significant
overburden to the war fighter with the current
selection of heavier weapons.

Can we do better for the war fighter?

GDATP started an IR&D initiative to
understand and develop a technology that
would greatly benefit the war fighter
Approved For Public Release

Identified Problem Confirmed

In December 2011, 7 major items identified as

problems that Army Science and Technology
must help solve.

Items 2,5 and 6

Overburden
Tactical Overmatch
Maneuverability

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GAP Analysis
CURRENT STATE: EXISTING SOLDIER CARRIED
WEAPONS RESTRICT MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE
RANGE OR RESTRICTIVE WEIGHT
Caliber

Maximum Effective Range

System Weight + 100 Rounds

7.62 NATO (M80)

M240B 800m (A)

M240L 600m(A)

M240B = 33.6 lbs

M240L = 28.5 lbs

GAP
.50 BMG (M33)

Man Portable

Longer Range and lethality with Man Portability

1800m (A)

130 lbs

Stationary or Vehicle
Mounted

SOLUTION: DEVELOP LONG RANGE, HIGHER

CALIBER WEAPON AT 7.62 mm SYSTEM WEIGHT
Approved For Public Release

Gap Analysis (Continued)

CONVENTIONAL
GUN
TECHNOLOGIES

REQUIRES NEW TECHNOLOGY

FOR A WEAPON/AMMO WITH M2
RANGE AT M240B WEIGHT

Approved For Public Release

System Architecture
Weapon
System
Ammunition

Energy 2x over 7.62mm

approaching .50cal
effects

Minimize Weight
and volume

Accessories (Leverage
existing Light Weight
Technology)

Weapon

New technology to
handle 2-3x impulse

Same Ergonomics(wt, size,

recoil) as 7.62mm

Mounts

Sights

MMG
Leverage
existing/emerging
technology

Provide same functionality

as a MMG (Firing rate,
sustain rate etc.
Simple and low cost

Approved For Public Release

Ammunition

Leverage Emerging/Existing
Technology/Programs
Emerging
Technology/Program
Precision Sniper Rifle
Program

Energy/Accurcy at 1500 yrds

.338, Norma Magnum and

Lapua 300 gr.

Existing Technology

.338 Lapua 300 gr. Family

of ammunition
Mk248 MOD 1, .300
Winchester Magnum Match
Grade (lower performance)

.50cal

Approved For Public Release

.338NM

7.62

5.56

Ammunition (Continued)

Energy over 7.62mm approaching .50 cal effects on soft

targets (Requirement)

2x the energy at Muzzle

Defeat level III Body armor at 1000 yards
Defeat light body armor at 1500 yards
Ballistic drop equivalent to .50 cal: decrease error budgets

.338 Norma Magnum Meets all

the energy requirements
Approved For Public Release

Ammunition (Continued)

Weight and Size

Cartridge Volume (Energy) drives weapon weight

.338 Cal (8.38mm) Pushing the limit on maintaining man
portability
.338 Norma has a slight advantage in size and weight over Lapua

.338 Norma

.338 Lapua

GDATP Baseline Design around

the .338 Norma Magnum also
compatible with Lapua and Mk248
Approved For Public Release

Weapon System Requirements

Handle 2.5x round energy but have the same feel

as 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun.
Firing rate 500 SPM
Provide 10 minutes of continuous suppressive fire
at 50-100 SPM without barrel change
Weapon Ergonomics
Same

foot print as M240B with weight approaching

an M240L

Weapon cost competitive with existing technology

Approved For Public Release

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Weapon System Concept

ACOG TA648MGO-50 With LRF

MMG .338 Variant

Bipod (COTS)
50 round Soft Pouch

.338 Norma Magnum

M192 Mount
Forward/Side strip
Link

Approved For Public Release

GFE

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Weapon System Solution

Weapon System Characteristics

Ammunition :.338 Norma Magnum

Projectile 300 gr. Sierra HPBT,FMJ, AP
Muzzle velocity:
2650 fps
Max Range :
5642 m
Max Effective Range :
1700 m
Weapon weight 24 lbs:
Length: 49 collapsed
Height of MMG on M192 Tripod 11.4
Barrel Length 24 in.
Mounts: M192, tripod, Vehicle mounts

Completed new design and

development to a man safe firing
weapon in 14 Months
Approved For Public Release

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12

Weapon System Solution (Continued)

Weapon System Characteristics

The LWMMG features a revolutionary recoil mitigation system known as

Short Recoil Impulse Averaging.
Substantially reduces recoil despite .338NM cartridge which has 2.5x
energy of NATO 7.62mm round
Improves target retention during automatic fire
The LWMMG recoil profile is similar to a 7.62mm NATO machine gun.
Eliminates the need for Soft mounts
At 1000 yards the LWMMG is capable of defeating Level III body armor and
incapacitating soft skinned vehicles by delivering more than 4x the
terminal effects of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.

Approved For Public Release

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Weapon System Solution (Continued)

The LWMMG weighs 24 pounds and features a fully collapsible

stock and integrated bipod offering superior mobility and
portability in both mounted and dismounted operations.

The LWMMG features a quick change

barrel with fixed headspace and timing
as well as integrated MIL-STD M1913
rails allowing the use of a variety of
optics, lasers and / or accessories within
the warfighter s portfolio.
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Weapon System Solution (Cont.)

System Weight Comparison

Min Combat System M2

M2HB
84 lbs
ACOG Sight
2.5 lbs
M3 Tripod
44 lbs
Spare Barrel
25 lbs
500 Linked Rds
145 lbs
Total
300 lbs

Min Combat System M240

Min Combat System MMG

M240
28. lbs
ACOG Sight
2.5 lbs
M192 Tripod
11 lbs
Spare Barrel 6.6 lbs
800 Linked Rds 53 lbs
Total
100 lbs

MMG .338 Variant

ACOG Sight
M192 Tripod
Spare Barrel
500 Linked Rds
Total

Load Break Down

Load Break Down

Load Break Down

Gunner (wpn, sight 100 rd)

37 lbs
A. Gunner (Trpd, S.Brl 300 rd) 37 lbs
Ammo Bearer (400 rds)
27 lbs

Gunner (wpn, sght 100 rds)

40 lbs
A. Gunner (Trpd, S.Brl 200 rds) 41 lbs
Ammo Bearer (300 rds)
36 lbs

1 HUMMV

25. lbs
2.5 lbs
11 lbs
6.2 lbs
60 lbs
104.7 lbs

LWMMG performance of .50 cal

with weight of a M240
Approved For Public Release

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Future Work

Continue LWMMG maturation program

Reliability/Durability

Polymer Case (Reduce weight)

Lube-less Weapon (Reduce Maintenance)
Marketing and Partnerships
Early adopters

Approved For Public Release

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Weapon System Movie

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